David Cameron Didn't Make a Deal with the Murdochs

David Cameron went on the defensive against speculation that he conspired with James and Rupert Murdoch over their proposed take over of BSkyB last year. Cameron appeared on the BBC1 Andrew Marr programme and admitted he attended a Christmas party at the house of former News International chief Rebekah Brooks in 2010. He said he didn't have any "inappropriate conversations with anyone about" the BSkyB deal, though. He admitted he "regretted" attending the party, and if he knew it was going to be a big deal, he would have stayed home.

Cameron insisted he never inappropriately worked with the News International on any business deals, and that it wasn't a secret he did try to court the Murdoch papers during his election run. "When it comes to the Murdoch newspapers, I was trying to convince a set of newspapers with largely centre-right, conservative views anyway, that they would be better off with the Conservative party running the country," he said. "The thing that people are asking is was there some big deal, some big agreement between me and Rupert Murdoch or James Murdoch that in return for support for the Conservative party I would somehow help their business interests or allow this merger to go through."

Cameron gave Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, a slight vote of confidence. He said believed Hunt did not break ministerial code after it was revealed one of his aides worked closely with the Murdoch's as News Corporation prepared its bid to take over BSkyB, but added if anything new comes up then Cameron would change his tune. "If evidence comes out through this exhaustive inquiry, where you're giving evidence under oath, if he did breach the ministerial code, then clearly that's a different issue and I would act."

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